Sentinel

Portland, Oregon: the travel-related itch Mr Smith and I hadn’t yet scratched. Everyone had told us we would love it due to the easy-walking neighbourhoods, amazing parks, and microbreweries…lots of microbreweries. And we were tempted to seek some fresh NorCal air after spending time in the dry sunny dustiness of LA.

After a short Uber ride from Portland International airport to downtown, we found ourselves at the Sentinel, a hip hotel comprised of two early-20th-century buildings: the Seward Hotel and the Portland Elks Lodge. We later found out that both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places – it’s easy to see why, each brims with character and personality.

We were welcomed into the lobby and glanced up at the lofty ceilings; there were racing-green walls, wooden panelling, bronze detailing and leather sofas: altogether it made us feel like we were entering a smart gentlemen’s club. Paired with the lovingly restored art deco building features, the hotel exuded an air of old-world charm, and we wanted to hunker down in the bar with a smoky Old Fashioned. Unfortunately, we had a tiny little Smith screaming at us because his normal naps in a cosy cot had been stolen away and replaced by bustling airport noise, an exciting flight and too many snacks.

We were quickly whizzed up to our room, noting the lovely vintage, gold lift and the striking brass knockers on each bedroom door en route. Our Parlour Suite lived up to its promise of space – it was an apartment-style space with a living room and a place for our little Smith to rest, so we put him to sleep in the bedroom, closed the door and put our feet up in our hideout.

Mr Smith’s eyes darted to the minibar goodies: all lovingly curated local products, including tea bags by local entrepreneur Steven Smith Teamaker, Portland Roasting Coffee, Durant Vineyards Oregonian wine, a pinch-pot of Jacobsen salt and an array of nutritional Portland-made snacks from the Better Bar. Portland is a proud city and this homegrown bounty made us feel the love. A lovely touch was the earplugs to quieten the sounds of the city for anyone who wasn’t used to that type of thing…and – we joked – our fellow guests could use them to muffle out little Smith if he wakes in the middle of the night.

Portland prides itself on being eco-friendly and Mr Smith (AKA Captain Planet) was very happy to see the green touches. All-natural bathroom goodies, supplied by Lather, were in recycled packaging and the peppermint leaves used in the soap were harvested from Oregon. Mr Smith also read happily from a little cork board in our bathroom that the city’s premier producer of artisan hyper-local honey, Bee Local, have installed four happy, healthy hives on the Sentinel’s roof. I was more excited about the equally important notice pinned next to it – a pint of Salt & Straw, the city’s famous ice-cream could be ordered to our room. Crazy delicious flavours on the seasonal menu included sea salt with caramel ripple, honey balsamic strawberry with cracked pepper, almond brittle with salted ganache or pear and blue cheese.

When little Smith woke up, we explored the many nooks and crannies of the hotel: a wine lounge attached for tasting local bottles; an old-school white-tableclothed restaurant called Jake’s Grill for steaks at night, and pancakes in the morning; the Jackknife bar for cocktails and a great happy hour. And, as hoped, Portland was just as we’d imagined it to be. We walked along the riverfront, explored a park overlooking the city, and sampled famous Portland delicacies (Stumptown Coffee and, of course, more Salt & Straw ice-cream). That night we collapsed on the comfortable bed, but not before ordering some CBD mocktails from the bar downstairs. Suffice to say, we didn’t need the earplugs.

On day two, we explored more, getting a free morning coffee at the hotel, and walked to Mother's Bistro & Bar, a lovely little spot with every classic on the menu – Mr Smith couldn’t get enough of the local jam that came with his toast. Portland has lots of cool, quirky shops and the labyrinthine Powell’s Books, the largest independently owned bookstore in the USA, allowed us to get lost in a wonderful sea of stories. That night we got a local babysitter and dined at hotspot Arden Restaurant – a must-try for city-breaking foodies. Sadly, the following morning we had to check-out – there were other parts of Portland we wanted to explore (Cannon Beach is a 90-minute drive away and movie geek Mr Smith wanted to see where they’d filmed The Goonies). 

We didn’t have to rush out though, as the Sentinel does a 12 noon check-out. (‘It should be law across the world!’, Mr Smith exclaimed). In a world without mini Smith, we would have had a lovely long lie-in on the soft bed – it wasn’t to be, but we appreciated the extra time nonetheless. And so, we readied ourselves for the next adventure, refreshed and happy, thanks to the Sentinel.